Thank you, Mr. Pollard. Is the deputy chair of the Standing Committee on Legislation that reviewed the bill prepared to make comments? The chair recognizes Mr. Ningark.
Standing Committee On Legislation Comments
Debates of April 7th, 1995
Topics
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Elections Act, No. 2
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 907
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Elections Act, No. 2
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 907
John Ningark Natilikmiot
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Legislation has completed its review of Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Elections Act, No. 2. The committee held a public hearing on this bill on Monday, March 27, 1995 in Yellowknife. The honourable John Pollard, the Government House Leader, appeared to present the bill at the hearing.
In its report to the House on Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Elections Act, the Standing Committee on Legislation recommended that consequential amendments be made to change the qualifications for persons running for office and for sitting Members of the Assembly. The amendments were required to disqualify inmates from being eligible as candidates in an election or to hold public office, even though they will become qualified electors under the amendments of Bill 15.
Mr. Chairman, therefore, Bill 19 proposes to amend the Elections Act to provide that persons in the correctional institutions are not eligible as candidates in an election. Clause 6(2) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act states that once an elected Member becomes ineligible to be a candidate, he or she must resign their seat. The committee did not receive any presentations from the public on Bill 19. However, the standing committee was satisfied that the proposed amendment addresses a concern expressed during the debate on Bill 15 and the committee is pleased to support Bill 19.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes the standing committee's report on Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Elections Act, No. 2. On March 27, 1995, the committee passed a motion that this bill be reported to the Legislative Assembly as ready for consideration in committee of the whole. That concludes our report. Thank you.
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Elections Act, No. 2
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 908
The Chair Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Is the Minister who introduced the bill prepared to bring in witnesses to deal with this matter?
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Elections Act, No. 2
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 908
John Pollard Hay River
If I might, Mr. Chairman.
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Elections Act, No. 2
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 908
The Chair Tony Whitford
Does the committee agree that the Minister take the witness chair with witnesses?
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Elections Act, No. 2
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 908
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Elections Act, No. 2
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 908
The Chair Tony Whitford
Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, assist the Minister please.
Good afternoon, Mr. Minister, welcome to the committee. Would you be so kind as to introduce your witness to the committee.
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Elections Act, No. 2
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 908
John Pollard Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, with me is an out-of-breath Mr. Mark Aitken, legal counsel, from the Department of Justice.
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Elections Act, No. 2
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 908
The Chair Tony Whitford
Thank you. Is out-of-breath hyphenated? Welcome, Mr. Aitken. General comments on the bill. Does the committee agree that we go clause by clause?
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Elections Act, No. 2
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 908
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Clause By Clause
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Elections Act, No. 2
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 908
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Elections Act, No. 2
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 908
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Elections Act, No. 2
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 908
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Elections Act, No. 2
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 908
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Elections Act, No. 2
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 908
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Elections Act, No. 2
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 908
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Elections Act, No. 2
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 908
The Chair Tony Whitford
Thank you. Does the committee agree that Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Elections Act, No. 2, is ready for third reading?
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Elections Act, No. 2
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 908
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Elections Act, No. 2
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 908
The Chair Tony Whitford
Bill 19 is now ready for third reading. Thank you, Mr. Minister and thank you, Mr. Aitken. Mr. Minister, you may speak.
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Elections Act, No. 2
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 908
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Chairman, I was just going to say that I believe I have another bill coming up, so I will just stay here and switch witnesses, if that is okay with the committee.
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Elections Act, No. 2
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 908
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Elections Act, No. 2
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 908
Bill 20: Loan Authorization Act, 1995-96
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 908
The Chair Tony Whitford
We will be dealing with Bill 20, Loan Authorization Act, 1995-96. The Minister responsible for introducing the bill, Mr. Pollard, are you prepared to make your opening remarks?
Minister's Introductory Remarks
Bill 20: Loan Authorization Act, 1995-96
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 908
John Pollard Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the purpose of the Loan Authorization Act, 1995-96, is to authorize the making of loans to municipalities. It is a requirement of the Northwest Territories Act that the lending of government funds be authorized by this Legislative Assembly. This act is an annual act which, for the 1995-96 fiscal year, will provide the authority to lend up to a maximum of $9.1 million to municipalities. This amount represents an increase of $2.1 million from the $7 million authorized for 1994-95 fiscal year.
Municipalities that have identified a requirement for loans include Yellowknife, Fort Smith, Fort Simpson, Hay River and Inuvik. The nature of municipal purposes for which these loans will be used include the repair of existing municipal property, a recreation centre and limited lot development. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Bill 20: Loan Authorization Act, 1995-96
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 908
The Chair Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr Pollard. Is the chairman of the Standing Committee on Finance, which reviewed the bill, prepared to make comments on the bill? The chair recognizes Mr. Antoine.
Standing Committee On Finance Comments